Chesapeake Regional Amateur Baseball League

2024 11U CRAB LEAGUE RULES

 MLB rules will be followed if not specifically addressed below.

Field Dimensions- 50ft pitching distance with 70ft bases. Leading/stealing/bunting allowed. Fake bunting is allowed but the player cannot show a bunt and then pull back and hit the ball.

Game Length - (6) inning games (Doubleheaders) on weekends and (7) inning games for weekday play (if daylight allows). A 2-hour time limit on games and games can go extra innings if the time limit has not expired. Games can end in a tie if the time limit is expired. Four (4) innings shall constitute an official game. If a game is stopped for any reason (weather, lightning, or darkness) and is unable to be resumed it will fall under one of two suspended game rules.  Games that are stopped prior to (4) full innings or (3 1/2) innings for (7) inning games with the home team ahead will be considered incomplete.  An incomplete game will be rescheduled and resumed from the exact point that it was called.  Any used pitchers cannot be reused and the batting order must stay the same.  Games stopped at any time after completing (4) full innings will be considered complete.  The final score will be determined by the following.   If a game is stopped at any time in the 5th inning or beyond the score will revert back to the score at the end of the previous full inning of play.  FOR EXAMPLE:  The visiting team is losing 4-2 after (4) full complete innings.  In the top of the 5th inning, the visiting team scores (5) runs and is leading 7-4.  In the bottom of the 5th prior to the third out the game is called due to weather.  The score reverts back to the completed 4th inning and the home team would be declared the winner at 4-2.

***Coaches of both teams may agree to not use the 2-hour time limit and play out all games fully, even in double headers, only if the umpire assigned to the game is willing to agree to those terms at the pre-game plate meeting. All 3 parties, both coaches and umpire must be willing to alter the game length.

Bench Side: In doubleheaders, the home (hosting) team will get their choice of bench side.  They will not switch sides between games of the doubleheader.  In (3) way games the home team gets their choice of sides for the 1st game, the team that is the visitor in the 1st game will remain on that same side for the 2nd game of the (3) way and will not move their stuff.  For the 3rd game, the host team waiting to play the last game will take the side of the departing team from the 2nd game.

Protests- Umpire's decision will be final. 

Official Team Roster and Birth Certificates -   No more than a (15) man roster. Rosters will not be collected prior to the season starting, however, please use good judgement in the use of guest players. Birth certificates should be in the possession of the head coach and able to be presented if challenged. Rosters may be modified due to unforeseen circumstances such as multiple ill or injured players, however, please exhibit good sportsmanship and self-report the use of guest players to your opponent prior to the game. No player can turn 12 years old until 5/1/23 or after. All guest players must be of proper age.

Umpires- One umpire is sufficient for games and should be considered the default. However, If ALL teams involved in the Double Header or Round Robin agree to two umpires when the host team is scheduling them then that can be done. The HOME field location would be responsible for setting up and canceling the umpires for ALL games payed at that field.  Teams would split the umpire costs in cash at game time.  Umpire fees for each location are posted on our website so you know what those fees are before showing up at the game.  In the event of an umpire shortage or cancellation, if the head coaches of both teams agree, you may self-umpire (using a coach or parent) games in order to allow the players to still play.

Baseballs - Each team will be responsible for two (2) new game balls per game then alternate a new or fairly new ball into the game if needed.  Example of game balls would be Diamond DCR/DCR-1, Rawlings RCAL/RCAL-1, or equivalent.

Mercy Rule- A (15) run lead after (4) innings, or a (10) run lead after (5) innings in a (6) or (7) inning game. The home team does not bat in the bottom of that inning if ahead by the mercy rule run differential. The intent of the mercy rule is to allow both teams to continue playing to get practice to be ready for tournament play but without embarrassing the loosing team. Should a team suffer from the mercy rule and want to continue playing so their players get more work (more pitchers to pitch or more at-bats), this is permissable only if both coaches and the umpire agree (the umpire must agree to this). Please use good judgement in these decisions so both teams get the work that they need out of this league but without demoralizing any teams or players.

Forfeited Game - A team can start with and must finish with a minimum of (8) players. Players showing up late will be added to the bottom of the lineup. Game time is forfeit time. If a team forfeits within (3) hours of the game being played then the team forfeiting will be responsible for paying ALL umpire fees for that game. This does not include games that are canceled in advance and communicated to the league and other teams involved. All cancellations due to weather should be communicated to all teams playing at your field and should be done at a minimum of at least (3) hours in advance. The final score of a forfeited game will be 10-0. 

Collision Rule- All runners must slide or otherwise attempt to avoid a fielder who has possession of the ball and is waiting to make a tag.  If a runner does not slide and there is no collision and the umpire rules the runner safe, then the runner is safe. Players will only be ejected if the umpire rules that the contact was malicious in nature.  All others will simply be called out if the umpire rules that it was a must-slide situation and the runner did not slide.  For double plays, if the player is not close enough to the bag to slide then veering off is acceptable. The umpires judgement is final in all calls.

Sliding - Head-first slides are allowed at ALL bases. Head first slide at your own discretion. This should be discussed and agreed to at the pre-game plate meeting with the umpire. If it is not agreed to with the umpire in advance, then the umpires call is final.

Jewelry/Distractions - No jewelry worn by players except for medical purposes.  Phiten necklaces are allowed.  White/Gray sleeves, sunglasses (safety prescription ok) or distractions worn by a pitcher must be removed. Sunglasses for batters ok as long as they are not mirrored.  No player/team chanting or intentional distractions once a pitcher has come to set.  While batting players on the bench and spectators observing the game which includes parents and fans please be respectful to the pitcher on the mound and do not yell or chant while they are pitching.  The defensive coach may talk with the umpire and one warning will be given if the umpire believes one should be given.  If the behavior continues the umpire may eject the spectator, or player or stop the game. The age group director must be notified if a spectator or player is ejected.   

Injury - If a player is injured or ill and must leave the game then that spot in the lineup will be skipped with no penalty.  If an injury occurs during an at-bat and the player can't continue the at-bat, the next batter will take over that at-bat and assume the count.  If injury occurs while on the bath paths the last recorded out will take the place of the injured player on the bases.  Once a player is removed from the game due to an injury, that player is not eligible to return to the same game in any capacity once his next at bat is skipped.

Ejection - If a player, parent, or coach is ejected from a game then the manager of the team with the ejection must email the Age Group Commissioner (Frank Rock) within (24) hours describing the circumstances of the ejection.  Any ejected player, coach, or manager must sit out the next league game.  A second ejection in the same season by that individual for unsportsmanlike conduct will result in an automatic removal of that individual from attending any future games played in that season.  Failure to abide will result in immediate removal of the team from the league.  If a player is ejected from the game his spot in the lineup will be skipped or resumed by a substitute. 

​Pitching Rules- (60) Pitches MAX per day per pitcher (per day, not per game) or 3-innings per pitcher, whichever comes first, will apply.  The goal of the CRAB League is to prepare teams for their tournaments so it is encouraged by rule to use more pitchers. Any pitcher who enters a game and throws a pitch to a batter is now the pitcher of record. Any pitcher withdrawn from the mound may not return to that position in the same game even if removed on a first visit.  Any coach who goes onto the field of play (2) times in an inning to confer with a pitcher must make a pitching change. This resets for each new pitcher. The only exception is due to injury or equipment damage.

Bat Restrictions- 2 1/4 up to 2 3/4 with unlimited drop. Bat must have BPF 1.15 stamp or a USA stamp. No altered bats allowed. If an illegal bat is discovered prior to a pitch being thrown the bat will simply be removed.  Once a pitch occurs or anytime during the at-bat but prior to the next batter receiving his first pitch the illegal bat is discovered the player will be called out. Runners would revert to the base they previously occupied if discovered after a hit. Once a pitch is thrown to a new batter there would be no penalty imposed on a previous discovery.

Bat Throwing: Each team will get its own warning when a bat is thrown from that team.  After the warning, the second occurrence by any player on the team that already received a warning will be called out.

Line Up-  Can bat anywhere from 9 up to the entire roster.  Once the number of batters is established it must remain the same throughout the game. All players (even those not in the batting lineup) have free defensive substitution at any time except a pitcher cannot re-enter later in the same game as a pitcher. A substitute is any player not in the original batting order. As soon as a substitute bats or runs for another player, the substitute and original starter are locked into the batting lineup slot and either one may bat or run in that lineup spot only. 

Courtesy Runner- At ANY time. Last batted out can run for the pitcher or catcher.

Balks– One balk warning per pitcher per game. Step to third and throw to first will be a balk. The ball is immediately ruled dead on a balk.

Dropped Third Strike- Dropped third stike is in effect. The catcher must catch the third strike when there are less than (2) outs and first base is not occupied or the batter may attempt to reach first base. The catcher must catch the third strike which would result in the third out when first base is occupied or not or the batter may attempt to reach first base.

Infield Fly- In effect.

Cleats- Rubber or molded cleats. Turf shoes are permittted. No sneakers or metal cleats.

Insurance: All teams should carry their own insurance.